Ayara Hilltops Boutique Resort & Spa Adults - Only

The breakfast wasn't amazing, but the resort itself was lovely. Our villa was beautiful, quiet, and felt completely private. Everything seemed brand new, clean, and well maintained, and there was a lovely pool. It's also well located, just a short ride from the beach, with a hotel buggy available.

After a 33 hour trip from Florida, I was badly jet-lagged, so I chose Ayara for my first night backpacking in Thailand. The value for what you get is hard to beat. I loved the breakfast buffet, and the massages were great, with steam rooms and complimentary tea too. The staff were alert, hospitable, and quick to respond. There was usually a buggy ready to take me to my room, and the views were amazing from every room. I did stop having my room cleaned after staff placed everything on the floor, including clean clothes and electronics. Also, the garden doors don't seal fully, so mosquitoes got in both during the day and at night. Sleeping with mosquito spray was a bother.

We came back for a second stay because we fell in love with the resort's tropical scenery. The spa was lovely and our massage was great, and room service was very good. The communal areas were clean and the staff friendly, though the language barrier made communication difficult. Our Courtyard Villa was just okay this time. It was in a busier part of the property, and staff and other guests could see onto our front balcony, so privacy was limited. Food was a little disappointing: the breakfast bar had very few vegan or vegetarian choices. We explained several times that we didn't want eggs added to our meal, but eggs still came.

The Super Deluxe villa had a lovely garden setting, and our own balcony deck had an amazing view. We stayed for 2 nights in a really spacious room, over 100 sqm. Surin Beach was about a 5-minute walk away, with a shuttle available too. You can request the ride between your room and the lobby at any hour, and the staff were welcoming and responsive. We used the 800THB vouchers for the spa and restaurant, and had a great spa visit and a very tasty meal at Spice Terrace.